Moral decay in Malaysian politics

The moral rot in Malaysian politics started the day Dr. Mahathir took power. It is ironic that it takes a half Indian to drum up the frenzy of the Malays’ clamour for supremacy. 

By Johan Brendon

 It is getting rather tedious to hear the relentless and pathetic complaining from the Malay supremacists that their special rights are being eroded. Indeed these zealots are getting desperate, vicious and personal. 

The latest salvo from the youth wing of Perkasa Chief - Arman Azha Abu Hanifah accusing the PKR President Wan Azizah Wan Ismail of being a “political prostitute” is a case in point. The fact that he has no qualms in making such a demeaning remark against a decent woman like Wan Azizah Wan Ismail just goes to show the depth of moral decay amongst the Malay extremists in Perkasa and UMNO. 

With such an unkind and nasty attack on a fellow human, one can only hope that they do not claim to be Muslims too. 

Muslims are known for their generous spirit and magnanimity. And besides, this bunch of extremists has lost their self respect. Their hatred and vitriol against those who oppose them has gone beyond the norm of what is acceptable in politics. Just like the Ku Klux Klan and the Nazis, they seem to equate racial superiority to patriotism and it is precisely this kind of ‘emotive’ politics which led to genocide in some countries such as Rwanda and former Yugoslavia. The question is - why has Malaysia lost its moral compass?  

Jeffrey set to form his own party?

By Luke Rintod of FMT
KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah PKR big shot Jeffrey Kitingan, who is now without a top post in the party, may be moving to set up his own political party.

"It pains my heart when I think on how PKR had treated me, treated us..." he said quietly during an interview over dinner at a shopping complex here on Thursday (Dec 2).

In a somber mood he reminisced how he had befriended and sought common grounds with Anwar Ibrahim, PKR de facto leader, three years ago on the various issues affecting the nation, especially those that had had direct impact on Sabah and Sarawak.

"He agreed with our views, rights and aspirations, and even promised to make amendments in the party's constitution. But nothing has been done...," he said.

Monolob ritual to appease the mountain spirit

By Luke Rintod of FMT
Kundasang is famous because here stands the soaring and majestic Mount Kinabalu, a Unesco World Heritage site. But one day in a year, this pristine site is closed to all except the native Kadazandusun community in Sabah. It is the day of the "monolob".

"Monolob" is an age-old ritual which literally means 'appeasing the spirits of the mountain'.

Years ago the mountain and its sprawling verdant foothills was native land but the area is now a gazetted park.

It is still however home to many indigenous people who have lived here for generations and who have a deep and intimate knowledge of the Kinabalu forest.

Ketuanan Melayu against Islamic teaching says scholar, says it is same as "Jews' chosen race"

Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA: A renowned Islamic scholar silenced arguments today over the controversial “Malay supremacy” concept, charging that it was un-Islamic and akin to the Jewish’s “ chosen race” claim.

Former Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin wrote today that the act of placing the Malay race as more supreme than the others was against the teachings of Islam, which preaches tolerance and the equality of all races.

“If someone considers himself more noble simply because of race or ethnicity factors, or considers others lower than himself because they are not of the same race, such belief is wrong and goes against the teachings of Islam.

“Should this be the case, it can be likened to the Jewish claim that they are the 'chosen race',” he said.

For once Salleh shares common ground with Dompok, dismissing "ketuanan Melayu"

By Razlan Danial
KOTA BELUD: Seldom does it happen for UMNO's Salleh Said to share a common ground with UPKO's Bernard Giluk Dompok, especially on "sensitive" issue.

But today both the ex-chief ministers of Sabah agreed to each other on one issue, "sensitive" or otherwise, dismissing "ketuanan Melayu" from political landscape, at least in Sabah.

When approached by FMT on his take on Dompok's outburst against "ketuanan Melayu", Salleh agreed: "Ketuanan Melayu does not arise in Sabah. Sabahan politicians do not subscribe to politics of domination by race".

The UPKO President, had at UPKO's Convention in Penampang yesterday, lambasted at the "ketuanan Melayu" being propogated by certain parties in Sabah. It hit the frontpage headlines of local newspapers here today.